The Ohio 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park turned into a good-old fashioned slugfest and after the checkers flew, a first time winner celebrated in Victory Lane.

Veteran drivers looked more like rookies for the first half of the event as they played knockout racing at the front of the pack.

Todd Bodine was the first victim when he went for a spin off the nose of Matt Crafton’s truck on Lap 9. Ron Hornaday was racing Mike Skinner for the lead on Lap 48 when contact between the two eliminated Hornaday from contention.

It took 178 starts to get there but Craftsman Truck Series driver Matt Crafton finally found his way to Victory Lane and he did it in dramatic fashion under the lights at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

After a month-long hiatus the truck teams were finally back in action and more than eager to jump back into the heat of competition. The first three-quarters of the race were fairly calm and predictable as Kyle Busch started on the pole and led 86 of the first 102 laps but it was during those final circuits when things got really interesting.

With crew chief Chad Knaus beseeching driver Jimmie Johnson to save fuel in the final seven laps of Saturday night's Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, the two-time defending Cup champion nursed the No. 48 Chevrolet across the finish line 7.002 seconds ahead of Clint Bowyer, who also gambled on fuel.

Johnson completed the final lap at a relative snail's pace -- 31.19 seconds -- in full conservation mode.click here to continue...